Frozen Water, Rubber and Administrative Tasks

Ahhh... the sounds of rubber spinning in a shell of frozen water (zeeeeeeeee). Complimented by engines and scraping of metal on ice and road.

So I was in Chicago Wednesday night, saw the snowstorm headed to Denver and figured I better not wait till my Thursday night flight to if it got cancelled. It was rhetorical at that point, if the weather man was right (which is an enigma in Denver), I knew the answer. That meant being at the airport as early as possible to get on the standby list. For Andrew that meant a riding with me to O'Hare at 4am, probably a little buzzed still and half asleep, seeing as we were out Wednesday night till 2:30am. I was able to hop the first flight out though and really owe you one Andrew. Andrew and I got some great pics of the folks we were are to run into... hopefully those will be posted soon. Pics of Tim Walters, Kara Feemster, Kevin Shannon, Brant Steiner, Thor. We also went to the top of the Hancock Building for a great evening view of Chicago from 96 floors up. Brant is married and has a child on the way. Kevin is in Law School in Cleveland, Timmy is getting married in June or July and hoping to do a bachelor event in Vegas. Kara is loving Chicago doing some travel for work (Denver in Feb...see you again then).

So like maybe you like heard, it is like kinda like snowing here a bit sorta. Yeah soooooo... here are some pics.

This is the alley behind my house (note the "Sweet" rut on the left: Joe 1, Rut 0) This is the entrance to my new place in Golden. It is a carriage house and in an awesome, i mean awesome location. Right near Golden's municpal ammenities, library, creek path, athletic fields, rec center and
My car with some snow on top.
Looking east into Downtown Golden this morning.


So far Golden has gotten over 20 inches so far, most of it between 6-2 last night. There actually was lighting and thunder with the snow last night. I have had the pleasure of working out my lower back shoveling snow. I actually got stuck in a rut in the alley by my house within 30 seconds of driving up to my place yesterday. It only took me like 30 flipping minutes to dig out, arrrgh. The side streets are completely rutted from the snow storm last week and 2-4 inche black ice is all over the place from the freeze thaw temps since the last storm. This should be interesting to see how long it takes to get back to status quo. Governor has declared another state of emergeancy and Douglas County was just declared a disaster area. It seems like there is a ton of trash on the Denver streets, bagged but not picked up. Like mountains of it on some corners...

It is still snowing, lightly though. Local Forecasters are saying this is a lull that should pick up again this afternoon/evening and result in another 5-15 inches before end of day tomorrow. That sentance just makes me smirk.

This weather forced limitation on activities has been nice so far for me... I have been taking care of a lot of administrative things I have put offer for sometime now... unpacking, updating, cleaning, sorting, surfing... I say let it snow another 30 inches, I could use another 2 days of just chillin.

Note to self: buy 2 gallons of washer fluid cause its gonna get messy on the road when this stuff starts melting.

More pics to come.

Louisville Photos

Me, Mom and Dad; I think this might be the best photo we have taken as a family ever. They got a cropped version for Christmas.
Me and Grandmommy
Aunt Betty and I catching a meeting
Grandaddy and I
Beautiful portrait shot of Grandmommy

New York Photos

Andrew Cooley and I. He and I met up and went to B&H Electronics (west side, Jewish owned retailer that has electronics down to a cluster funk of a science. It is run by Hasidic Jews in all their yarmuka and lock glory. One thing I noticed in the shopping melee was that I saw only one female employee on the floor. She was assigned as the "thanks for shopping B&H" ambassador. But there were no other women at all on the sales floor working. Hmmm. Andrew is doing great, in the sail rigging business for one of the oldest US sail makers, its a small shop, family owned but he says he has been concerned with longevity, challenge and reaching full potential. So good to see him. Just makes me smile how I recognized him in a ski outfit at Vail last year after not seeing the guy for 10+ years. I guess it is a small world, one community.


Rockefeller Center

Lokking south west from Central Park over an ice rink

Kate Ersly and I

Fifth Avenue

Christmas vacation breather...

Truth is I have been really lazy and haven't written in my blog so this breather I speak of is one of eye-opening excitement. I am flying to chicago in about 2 hours to see Andrew Juedes, Tim Walters and some other Dension folks. I have been in Louisville and have seen lots of family and friends this past week after 3 days in New York. I saw, Ed and Shirley Dumesnil, Danny, Janice and Kobe (spelled right?), Josh and Caroline Jevne, my parents and grand parents, the Whitty's (John, Laura and Arra), Allen Bush(Uncle Al) and Aunt Betty. So good to see all these folks.

I always refer to Thanksgiving and Christmas as holidays of glut. We sure are fortunate to be able to have all that we have. I am so flipping stuffed from eating so well all week, I actually think I have had a couple of out of body experiences during over-contentness or it was just a wicked case of food coma.

I have lots of photos to post from New York and Louisville and will get them up once I am back in Denver.

I lost a friend in Kansas City just before the holiday. Jim Howard was inspiring, level headed, witty, funny, really real and always there if I need someone to talk to... he passed sober in his sleep at the mercy of Lou Gehrigs(sp?) dissease. The world is minus one on the good guy team with him gone, but I will never forget him. One of the best men I have ever known, godspeed Jim.

That's about it for now... New Year's right around the corner and I am looking for something fun to do, soliciting ideas.

Best and Be Safe,
Joe

Post Exams

So I am writing from New York City. Exams are over and teh condo is sold. Last week was packed full of things from Monday morning through Friday at 4:30 when I formally closed on the property. Really excited to be over with my first semester and am sure that it ended well definately a B or better average. One note to self, probably shouldn't have taken 5 classes in my first semester without checking to see if each of them had a final.

I got into NYC yersterday, flew in with one the exchange students after I missed my flight. So instead of taking a flight that left at 9:30 I left on a direct flight 3 hours later and instead of arriving at 5:30, I go there 6pm. It all works out in the end. I met up with Andrew and Keri by 7 and we went downtown to the Village area for dinner with one of their friends. I slept in the taxi on the way home I was so tired from the week.

Today I met up with Andrew Cooley at Grand Central Station for lunch and the afternoon. We started near Times Square and went all the way back down to Union and Washington Square on foot, so definately got some excercise. We had lunch at the Park Avenue Country Club, a great 20 something place to watch some football.

I write from the hotel, ready to continue cathcing up on some sleep. With that good night and more to come over the holidays. Picture of NYC too of course.

Pre Exam Week

So I have 5 exams next week; yes I am pretty busy right now. Really looking forward to the 16th when I fly to NYC. My condo is under contract with a close date of the 15th and the move can wait till after my last exam on the morning of the 14th. Things are going well. We have gotten some snow. I was able to get some skiing in last Friday at Winter Park. They got 8 inched of fresh snow while we were there. it was great... the snow is so forgiving when its powder.

Above are 2 photos I snapped yesterday from my balcony. You can see the MOON setting over Denver. Beautiful sight. Seems like the moon is setting at around 5 or 6 these days so if you are up early... take a gander.

Best,
Joe